Eaves construction for wood deck storage tanks



M,,\y9,1933.` E, ,Q SCHAEFFR 1,907,590

EAVES CONSTRUCTION FOR WOOD DECK STORAGE TANKS Filed Aug. l2, 1930 INVENTOR @BW/MMM 9i Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER R. SCHAEFFER, OF CRESTWOOD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR'TO -THE I HILIP CAREY MANUFACTURING COllrIlEAlI'SZ,v A COREORATIONMDFQOHIO l Application med Augusfia'ieeol serial Na. ,4r/4,735.

My invention relates to structures, such as tank roofs and more particularly `to roofs for oil storage tanks.

In cases where the contents of the tank (such as various sulphur containing oils) would cause corrosion to a steel cover` or deck, and sometimes for economy, it is customary to make the tank roof of wood and cover it with roofing material. It has heretofore been found Vdifficult Vto make and keep such a roof vapor tight at the eaves, since the steel shell orside wall of the tank is subject to a considerableamount of movement incidental to filling and emptying and to temperature changes. Losses dueto evaporation where the tank cover is not tight` amount to very large sums.

An object of the invention is to provide yan improved roof having a flexible gas tight connection between the metal shell or side walls and the wooden roof, wherebywthe normal movement of the metal lshell is permitted without interrupting the gas tightness of the tank.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein: y

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the tank;

Fig. 2 a fragmentary plan view partially broken away, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, the tank has the usual cylindrical steel shell or side wall l around the upper rim of which an angle iron 2 ,is secured, as by rivets 3. The angle iron is arranged with one of its flanges2 horizontal and preferably slightly above the upper edge of the shell l. Within the shell there are the usual wooden vertical stanchions or supports 4 supporting wooden rafters -5 upon which rest the woodensheathing 6 enclosing the top of .the tank. v i

The sheathing 6 is covered with a layer 7 of roofing such as any flexible roofing material which is designed to aconsiderable degree to be impervious to the vapor in the tank. To this end it may comprise the usual flexible roofingvformed of asbestos felt or paper impregnated with bituminous composition such as asphalt -or coal tarfThis flexible drooling' sheet covers the entire sheathing 6. f I A,

Overlying theroofngslijeet 7 is a layer or cover 8 of lsuitable heat insulatingv4 material, preferably of a rigid (board-like form such* as the well known products -Celotex, Masonite, etc. This material extends `over the entire central vportionof roofing sheet?? but terminates, as 'shown at 9, aslight distance inwardly of the shell 1. A second layer `10 of like flexible roofing fis f'superposed upon the materialv Sibut is Zturnedy down* wardly at the outer edge of the said material into Contact :with the layer 7, thereby forming near the eavesof the roof two su,- perpo'sed layers 71 andf'lO of` flexible roofing. Between the outer edge of the heat insulating material 8 and thel angle member 2 is arranged a ring `1l rof heat insulating material similar to that shown at 8, this ring resting on'v the superposed layers 7 uand 10 of flexible roofing materal. To add Vto the rigidity ofthe shell` and to provide a strong constructiom secure to the flange 2 of the anglemember a .rigid metallic ringV -12.; and .in order to provide a vapor ltight seal or gasket at the eaves portion vof the tank, I arrange .between this plate and vthe roofing l() and ring 11 a sheet'of resilien't materialftvhich is-substantially impervious to thehydrocarbon vapors `within the tank. This sheet ligas shown`,.has its inner portionarranged-adjacent the edge 9 of the central cover of heat insulating material and extends outwardly therefrom over ring ll ofheat vinsulating material between the upper surface of the said ring and the plate l2. and then outwardly between the flange 2` and the metallic plate 12. The resilient sheet is doubled over` atits outerportion so aste' have two layers ofthe sheet overthellange 2', over the outer portion of the roofing` 4lO andover the rino l1..v A seal is thus .formed at the angle member L2,; fand another seal is formed yat the ring 11. j Beradial direction and thus permits considerable motion between the shell 1 and the wooden roof Without tearing the resilient sheet. When the plate 12 is securely fastened in place7 this resilient sheet 14 thus forms a gasket which prevents escape of vapor and at the same time Vpermits such relative movement as occurs vbetween the sheathing 6 land the metallic shell 1 and between the sheathing 6 and the plate 12 without breaking the vapor seal.

. While the resilient sheet 14 forming the gasket may be made of various materials, I prefer to make the same of a felt, such as hair felt, which Ais madeimpervious to vapor by saturating the same with a suitable comfposition. I have :found that a suitable composition for this purpose is formed by.

adding to a vegetable oil, such as corn oil, some form of sulphur such as from 20% to sulphur chloride.l When these vmaterialsare used a chemical action takes place which' causes theoil vto change to a thick i rubber-like material which is practically insoluble in gasolinevand impervious to hydro.- carbons. The rubber-like material is applied to the hair felt while the compound Vis hotl and thereby caused to thoroughly impregnat'ethe felt; j

The ring 12 is preferably madeyup of sector-shaped'plates 12asuch as shown in'Fi-g. 2. These plates are provided with return rbend edges which lit over the flange 2, the resilient sheet 14 being also turned over the flange 2. ,The plates are secured to the sheet in such a Way as to leave the plates and sheathing free for such relative movement as takes place in service. To this end the various plates are provided with slots 117 extending transversely to the outer or peripheral edges ofthe plates. Through these slots, laguscrews 18 are passed into the sheathing to secure the plates to the sheathing. With this arrangement, the plates are held firmly in place while atV the same time allowing freedom between the plates andy the sheathing. The adjacent plates are secured together by bolts 19 passing through apertured lugs 19a, the bolts being provided with nuts 19b threaded on the ends thereof vand engaging the yfaces of the lugs. Preferably, three sets of bolts and lugs are providedfor attaching together adjacent plates. @ne set is arranged on the return bend edge of the plates while another set is located above the first set. rIhe third set is located near the lag screws 18. Between the edges ofadjacent plates are provided gaskets 16 comprising strips of lead having the central portions kformed into loops which are gripped between the edges Vof the adjacent plates.y The arrangement of bolts and lugs is such that when the bolts are drawn up, the platesfwill tend to correct anyVout-ofround condition that may exist in the shell.

I also place between the upper edge of the metal shell and angle member 2 and rivet heads a mass 28 of a sealing cement which is impervious to and unaffected by the hydrocarbon vapors in the tank. A suitable cement for this purpose is pitch containing a filler of asbestos.

The-tank roof is covered with a suitable roofing material 20. VThis material may be any suitable roofing,I such as a 'built-up roofing formed of a plurality of layers of flexible roofing, such Ias asbestos roofing. .This is preferably capped with an' asbestos felt impregnated with a bituminous composition7 such as asphalt, and coated-with a suitable coating `material suoli asY asphalt and surfaced with a finely divided aluminum. To secure this rooflngfin place and also to provide over the center of the tank a sealing layer of material which is impervious to hydrocarbon vapors, the roofing sheet 10 is covered with a layer 21 of asphalt upon which the/roofing 20 isplaced before the asphaltV has hardened.

Between the roofing 2O and the'metallic ring 12 there is formed a slip connection which provides a tight joint and at the same time permits freedom of relative movement between the ring` 12 and the roof 20. A.

flashing plate 22v overlies the inner edge Vof the ring 12 and extends beneath the outer edge of the roofing 20. Lag screws 23 pass through the roofing 20,flash plate 22,'recesses 12b in the inner edge of the ring 12 and into the sheathing l6. Movementof the eaves plates 12a relative to the flash plate is 'permitted by reason of the slots 12b.

The structure above disclosed permits such movement of the roofvas is incidental -V- to filling and emptying and to temperature changes and at" the same time provides a tank which is closed tight at all times.y The structure of the eaves plates is such as to draw the tank into cylindrical form when i thebolts are drawn up and provide adurable and efficient connection withthe shell. Although the above described movement of the invention is preferred'. it is to be understocd that various Ymodifications within the scope of the appended claims may be made, without in any `way'departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: Y

Y1. In combination, a cylindrical. tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge. a roof` segmental eaves plates attached to said roof vand havingtheir peripheral vedges turned over to receivev said flange. means for drawing together adjacent plates with their roof and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, alined lugs on said plates, bolts extending through said lugs for drawing said plates together with their adjacent edges in abutting relation, and means forming a vapor tight seal between said roofl and tank.

3. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge, a roof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, a plurality of sets of lugs and bolts for attaching together adjacent plates, one set of bolts and lugs being arranged beneath said i flange, and means forming a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

4. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge, a roof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, soft lmetal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, means connecting together adjacent. plates, and means forming a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

5. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge, a roof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, aligned lugs on said plates, bolts extending through said lugs to fasten together adjacent plates, and means forming a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

6. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge, a roof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof` and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, a plurality of sets of aligned lugs and bolts for attaching together adjacent plates, one set of lugs being arranged beneath said flange, and means forming a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

7. In combination, a tank, a roof, eaves plates secured to said roof and to said tank, roofing material overlying the inner edges of said eaves plates, an annular plate interposed between the roofing material and the eaves plates, and means for securing said roofing 'material and ring to said roof.

8. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange, a roof, segmental eaves plat-es attached to said roof'and having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, means connecting to- 1 gether adjacent plates, means forming a vapor tight seal between the roof and tank, roofing material overlying the inner edges havingla vhorizontal flange at itsfupper edge,

a roof, `segmental eaves 4platesattachedrto said roofv and 'having their peripheral edges turned over t'o= 4receive, said lflange, alined lugs on i said plates, and Vbolts extending through said lugsffordrawingsaid plates together withY their adjacent edges in abutting relationship'.Y 1

jyll. In combination, a .cylindrical tank havinga horizontal llange at its upperedge,

a-roof, segmental eaves plates-attached"v to said roof `and having their peripheralJ edges Vturned over to .receive said flange, and a plurality of sets of `lugsand -bolts for attaching together adjacent plates, one set of bolts vand lugs being-arranged .beneath saidv flange.

12. Incombinatiomia vcylindrical tank, a roof, eaves plates secured to saidroof `and to saidtank, soft'metalstrips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, and means connecting together adj acent plates. 'y f- '1 p' -,i :www 13.- In' combinatiom-a cylindrical tank, a

roof, eaves plates secured to said roof andv to said tank, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, aligned lugs on said plates, and bolts extending through said lugs to fasten together adjacent plates.

14. In combination, a cylindrical tank, a roof, eaves plates secured t0 said roof and to said tank, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, means connecting together adjacent plates, and means for forming `a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

15. In combination, a cylindrical tank, a roof, eaves plates secured to said roof and to said tank, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent .edges of said plates, aligned lugs on said plates, bolts eX- tending through said lugs to fasten together adjacent plates, and means for forming a vapor tight seal between said roof and tank.

16. In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal flange at its upper edge, aroof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof and having their peripheral edges turnedrover to receive said flange, soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates, and aplurality of sets of aligned lugs and bolts for attachico ing together adjacent plates, one set of lugs being arranged beneath said flange. Y

17 In combination, a cylindrical tank having a horizontal iange, a roof, segmental eaves plates attachedto said roof and having their peripheral edges turned over to re'- ceive said ange, means connecting `together adjacent plates, roofing material overlying the inner edges of said plates, an annular plate interposed between the roofing material and said plates, and means for'securing said roofing material and plate to said roof. 18. In combination, a tank, a roof, eaves plates secured to said roof and to said tank, roofing material overlying the inner edges of said eaves plates, an annular plate interposed between the roofing material and the eaves plates, means forl securing said roofing material and said ring tovsaid roof, means connecting together adjacent plates, and soft metal strips having loops projecting between adjacent edges of said plates. Y

19. Infcombination, al cylindrical tank having a horizontal iange at its upper end, a roof, segmental eaves plates attached to said roof for slight relative movement, said plates having their peripheral edges turned over to receive said flange, meansl for drawing adjacent edges of said eaves plates `into `Contact to` form an annu-lus, and .means forminga vapor tight seal between said roof and tank. Y

fIn testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. V I 'ELMER R.' SCHAEFFER. 

